You know how you get back from vacation and, instead of feeling rested and relaxed, you’re more stressed than before?

That’s how the current crop of Formula One drivers must feel as they return to work this weekend at the Belgian Grand Prix after a month-long break.

Well, maybe not Lewis Hamilton. He’s pretty chill, you’d think, given his form so far.

The five-time champ has eight wins and 10 podiums in 12 races and leads Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas by a commanding 62 points atop the standings.

In other words, barring a catastrophic turn of events, Hamilton could take another month off and still drive away with his sixth drivers’ title by the time the checkered flag comes down at the season closer in Abu Dhabi on Dec. 1.

What’s to sweat?

Lewis Hamilton, seen steering his Mercedes during Friday practice for the Belgian Grand Prix, holds a commanding lead in the drivers’ championship.Mark Thompson /
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Likewise, Mercedes is on the fast track to continuing its sweep of constructors’ crowns since F1 switched to turbo-hybrid engines in 2014.

Presumably, this will do nothing to shake off complaints that the planet’s premier racing series has become too paint-by-numbers.

Who can argue with that?

Between them, Hamilton and Bottas account for every win but two this season, giving Mercedes 438 points vs. 288 for Ferrari and 244 for Red Bull.

The two exceptions were Austria and Germany, where Max Verstappen — bless his soul — won both times at the wheel of his Red Bull.

He almost made it three victories at the last stop, in Hungary, where he relinquished the lead with four laps remaining, unable to fend off Hamilton in a better car and fresher tires.

Still, what a performance. No question, Hamilton aside, Verstappen is the driver who has most reason to be pleased with himself so far.

Watch for the grandstands to be painted orange again this weekend as the usual army of Verstappen supporters descends on the Belgian Ardennes to cheer on the young Dutchman.

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen is the only driver not in a Mercedes to win races this season.Peter Fox /
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As for the others, there is little to cheer about — and they know it.

Bottas, at best, can breathe a sigh of relief after Mercedes announced on Thursday that his services will be retained for at least another season.

Even then, it wasn’t exactly a ringing endorsement from team principal Toto Wolff, who said it was a tough call between keeping the veteran Finn or opting for young reserve driver Esteban Ocon of France.

Bottas caught a break, but you can bet he feels the pressure to prove his boss made the right choice.

Nico Hulkenberg was less lucky, with Renault announcing he will be replaced by Ocon as of next season. That leaves the German with the stress of trying to impress in the remaining races to earn a spot elsewhere. (Maybe Haas?)

That announcement came a week after team boss Christian Horner told reporters at the Hungarian GP that Red Bull intended to keep Gasly until the end of the season.

“It was kind of a shock,” Gasly said of his sudden demotion. “The team said I was going to drive until the end of the year, and that’s what I believed.”

Hmm. Maybe the team meant he was going to drive until the end of the year in someone else’s car.

In any case, Gasly and Albon were in their new vehicles at Spa during Friday practice.

Lance Stroll of Montreal has yet to out-qualify Racing Point teammate Sergio Perez in 12 tries this season. His next chance comes Saturday at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit.KENZO TRIBOUILLARD /
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Over at Ferrari, Sebastian Vettel rated his performance in the first dozen races as a five on 10 when he was asked about it in Hungary. Harsh? Not really, given that the presumed title contender has come up empty so far this season.

Vettel came close to winning in Montreal, where he crossed the finish line first but was demoted to second thanks to a penalty for a track infraction.

And an engine problem denied teammate Charles Leclerc his first F1 win in Bahrain, where he had been leading with 10 laps to go.

But close isn’t good enough for a storied team such as Ferrari and its worldwide legions of tifosi, and the scuderia will be expected to salvage some measure of honour in the remaining nine events.

Belgium and next week’s home race in Italy could provide the best chances, as the two free-flowing tracks are expected to play to the strengths of the red cars. We’ll see.

Friday was a promising start, anyway, with Vettel topping the time sheets during morning practice and Leclerc doing the same in the afternoon. But practice is just that — practice.

As for Lance Stroll, he’s under the gun, too, having been out-qualified by teammate Sergio Perez 12 times out of 12 at Racing Point. The Montreal native needs to end that slide, the sooner the better.